Battery unit, flavor inhaler, method of controlling battery unit, and program

ABSTRACT

A battery unit includes a power supply; a connection configured to be connectable with a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source and a charger for charging the power supply; and a controller that performs a specific process at least selectively executable to at least temporarily disable the supply of electric power to the load from the power supply, if erroneously determining the load connected to the connection as the charger is identified.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of PCT International Application No.PCT/JP2017/008859, filed on Mar. 6, 2017, which is hereby expresslyincorporated by reference into the present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a battery unit including a connectionconfigured to be connectable with an atomizer for atomizing an aerosolsource, a flavor inhaler including the battery unit, a method ofcontrolling the battery unit, and a program for executing the method.

BACKGROUND ART

Instead of cigarettes, non-combustion-type flavor inhalers (electroniccigarettes) for inhaling flavor without combustion have been proposed(see PTLs 1 to 6). The flavor inhaler includes at least one of anaerosol source and a flavor source, an atomizer that is an electric loadfor atomizing inhaling taste components contained in at least one of theaerosol source and the flavor source, a power supply configured tosupply electric power to the atomizer, and a controller configured tocontrol the atomizer and the power supply.

PTL 1 discloses that the atomizer is configured to be detachablyconnected to the battery unit provided with the power supply and thecontroller. PTL 1 discloses that the atomizer connected to the batteryunit can be identified using identification information such as an ID.

PTL 2 discloses an electronic smoking apparatus in which the atomizerand a charger can be alternatively connected to a common connection(interface) of the battery unit.

PTL 3 discloses that over-current flowing in an electronic circuit in anelectronic cigarette or short circuit in the electronic circuit isdetected. PTL 4 discloses a fuse that prevents overheating of theatomizer in the electronic cigarette. PTL 5 discloses that when there isa system malfunction in an aerosol generating device such as an electricsmoking utensil, the fuse in the electronic circuit is blown, therebydisabling the system. PTL 6 discloses that over-current and over-voltageare detected in a charging process of the battery unit of the electroniccigarette.

PTL 7 discloses a charge monitoring device configured to monitor acharged state of a battery when the battery is charged. This chargemonitoring device detects an abnormal charge state by monitoring changein voltage of the battery to be charged with respect to time or changein voltage of the battery to be charged with respect to a chargingelectric quantity, and also monitoring a voltage value of the batterymeasured by the voltage measurement means.

PTL 8 discloses a user authentication technique based on the inhalingpressure in a puff action of the user in the flavor inhaler.

PTL 9 discloses a technique in which the flavor inhaler is easilydisabled.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   PTL 1: U.S. Patent No. 2016/0174076-   PTL 2: International Publication No. WO 2016/119626-   PTL 3: U.S. Patent No. 2014/0254055-   PTL 4: U.S. Patent No. 2014/0283856-   PTL 5: National Publication of International Patent Application No.    2014-501106-   PTL 6: U.S. Patent No. 2015/0036250-   PTL 7: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-317811-   PTL 8: International Publication No. WO 2015/167000-   PTL 9: National Publication of International Patent Application No.    H11-507718

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A first feature is a battery unit comprising: a power supply; aconnection configured to be connectable with a load for atomizing anaerosol source or heating a flavor source or a charger for charging thepower supply; and a controller that performs a specific process at leastselectively executable to at least temporarily disable the supply ofelectric power to the load from the power supply, if erroneouslydetermining the load connected to the connection as the charger isidentified.

The second feature is the battery unit according to the first feature,comprising: a power supply; a connection configured to be connectablewith a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor sourceor a charger for charging the power supply; and a controller that iscapable of executing a power supply mode in which electric power issupplied to the load from the power supply and a charge mode in whichthe charger charges the power supply, wherein the controller performs aspecific process at least selectively executable to at least temporarilydisable the supply of electric power to the load from the power supply,in the case of executing the charge mode when the load is connected tothe connection.

The third feature is the battery unit according to the first feature orthe second feature, wherein in the specific process, the controllerrechecks whether the load is connected to the connection before at leasttemporarily disabling the supply of electric power to the load from thepower supply.

The fourth feature is the battery unit according to any one of the firstfeature to the third feature, wherein a disconnecting means for at leasttemporarily disabling the supply of electric power to the load from thepower supply is provided to the load.

The fifth feature is the battery unit according to any one of the firstfeature to the third feature, further comprising: a disconnecting meansfor at least temporarily disabling the supply of electric power to theload from the power supply.

The sixth feature is the battery unit according to the first feature,comprising: a detector configured to detect an output voltage of thepower supply, wherein the controller is capable of executing a powersupply mode in which electric power is supplied to the load from thepower supply and a charge mode in which the charger charges the powersupply, and if a decreasing amount of the output voltage per apredetermined time period in the charge mode is equal to or smaller thana first threshold which is set based on the decreasing amount of theoutput voltage per the predetermined time period in the power supplymode, the controller identifies hat the load connected to the connectionis erroneously determined as the charger.

The seventh feature is the battery unit according to the second feature,comprising: a detector configured to detect an output voltage of thepower supply, wherein if a decreasing amount of the output voltage per apredetermined time period in the charge mode is equal to or smaller thana first threshold which is set based on the decreasing amount of theoutput voltage per the predetermined time period in the power supplymode, the controller executes the charge mode when the load is connectedto the connection.

The eighth feature is the battery unit according to the sixth feature orthe seventh feature, wherein the first threshold is set to be equal toor smaller than a decreasing amount of the output voltage per thepredetermined time period in the power supply mode.

The ninth feature is the battery unit according to any one of the sixthfeature to the eighth feature, comprising a switch that is capable ofelectrically connecting or disconnecting the power supply to or from theload or the charger that is connected to the connection, wherein thecontroller turns on the switch if a first condition is satisfied in thepower supply mode, and the controller turns on the switch if a secondcondition different from the first condition is satisfied in the chargemode.

The tenth feature is the battery unit according to the ninth feature,comprising a detector configured to detect an operation for using theload, wherein the first condition is that the operation is detected.

The eleventh feature is the battery unit according to the ninth featureor the tenth feature, wherein the second condition is that the chargeris connected to the connection.

The twelfth feature is the battery unit according to any one of thefirst feature to the eleventh feature, wherein the specific controlincludes a first mode in which the supply of electric power to the loadfrom the power supply is temporarily disabled so that the controller iscapable of resuming the supply of electric power and a second mode inwhich the supply of electric power to the load from the power supply isirreversibly disabled so that the controller is not capable of resumingthe supply of electric power.

The thirteenth feature is the battery unit according to the twelfthfeature, wherein the controller executes the first mode by controlling aswitch provided on at least one of the battery unit and the load.

The fourteenth feature is the battery unit according to the twelfthfeature or the thirteenth feature, wherein the controller executes thesecond mode by blowing a fuse provided on at least one of the batteryunit and the load.

The fifteenth feature is the battery unit according to any one of thetwelfth feature to the fourteenth feature, wherein the controllerincludes a first condition and a second condition for determiningwhether the first mode and the second mode are to be executed,respectively, and the second condition is severer than the firstcondition.

The sixteenth feature is the battery unit according to any one of thetwelfth feature to the fifteenth feature, wherein the controllerexecutes the first mode when a specific variable is equal to or largerthan a second threshold, and the controller executes the second modewhen the specific variable is equal to or larger than a third thresholdlarger than the second threshold.

The seventeenth feature is the battery unit according to the sixteenthfeature, wherein the specific variable is the number of times that thespecific condition is satisfied, the second threshold is a naturalnumber of one or greater, and the third threshold is a natural numberlarger than the second threshold.

The eighteenth feature is the battery unit according to the seventeenthfeature, wherein the second threshold is “1.”

The nineteenth feature is the battery unit according to the sixteenthfeature, comprising a detector configured to detect an output voltage ofthe power supply, wherein the specific variable includes decreasingamount of the output voltage per a predetermined time period in thecharge mode.

The twentieth feature is a flavor inhaler, comprising: the battery unitaccording to any one of the first feature to the nineteenth feature; andthe load.

The twenty-first feature is a method of controlling a battery unitincluding: a power supply; and a connection configured to be connectablewith a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor sourceor a charger for charging the power supply, the method comprising:performing a specific process at least selectively executable to atleast temporarily disable the supply of electric power to the load fromthe power supply, if erroneously determining the load connected to theconnection as the charger is identified.

The twenty-second feature is a method of controlling a battery unitincluding: a controller that is capable of executing a power supply modein which electric power is supplied to a load from the power supplythrough a connection configured to be connectable with the load foratomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source or a charger forcharging the power supply, and a charge mode in which the chargercharges the power supply through the connection, the method comprising:performing a specific process at least selectively executable to atleast temporarily disable the supply of electric power to the load fromthe power supply, in the case of executing the charge mode when the loadis connected to the connection.

The twenty-third feature is a program causing a battery unit to executethe method according to the twenty-first feature or the twenty-secondfeature.

The twenty-fourth feature is a battery unit, comprising: a power supply;a connection configured to be connectable with a load for atomizing anaerosol source or heating a flavor source or a charger for charging thepower supply; a detector configured to detect an abnormality in the loador the power supply; and a controller that performs a specific processat least selectively executable to at least temporarily disable thesupply of electric power to the load from the power supply, if anabnormality in the load or the power supply is detected.

The twenty-fifth feature is the battery unit according to thetwenty-fourth feature, wherein in the specific process, the controllerrechecks whether the load is connected to the connection before at leasttemporarily disabling the supply of electric power to the load from thepower supply.

The twenty-sixth feature is the battery unit according to thetwenty-fourth feature or the twenty-fifth feature, wherein adisconnecting means for at least temporarily disabling the supply ofelectric power to the load from the power supply is provided to theload.

The twenty-seventh feature is the battery unit according to thetwenty-fourth feature or the twenty-fifth feature, further comprising: adisconnecting means for at least temporarily disabling the supply ofelectric power to the load from the power supply.

The twenty-eighth feature is the battery unit according to any one ofthe twenty-fourth feature to the twenty-seventh feature, wherein thespecific control includes a first mode in which the supply of electricpower to the load from the power supply is temporarily disabled so thatthe controller is capable of resuming the supply of electric power and asecond mode in which the supply of electric power to the load from thepower supply is irreversibly disabled so that the controller is notcapable of resuming the supply of electric power.

The twenty-ninth feature is the battery unit according to thetwenty-eighth feature, wherein the controller executes the first mode bycontrolling a switch provided on at least one of the power supply andthe load.

The thirtieth feature is the battery unit according to the twenty-eighthfeature or the twenty-ninth feature, wherein the controller executes thesecond mode by blowing a fuse provided on at least one of the powersupply and the load.

The thirty-first feature is the battery unit according to any one of thetwenty-eighth feature to the thirtieth feature, wherein the controllerincludes a first condition and a second condition for determiningwhether the first mode and the second mode are to be executedrespectively, and the second condition is severer than the firstcondition.

The thirty-second feature is the battery unit according to any one ofthe twenty-eighth feature to the thirty-first feature, wherein thecontroller executes the first mode when a specific variable is equal toor larger than a second threshold, and the controller executes thesecond mode when the specific variable is equal to or larger than athird threshold larger than the second threshold.

The thirty-third feature is the battery unit according to thethirty-second feature, wherein the specific variable is the number oftimes that a specific condition is satisfied, the second threshold is anatural number of one or greater, and the third threshold is a naturalnumber larger than the second threshold.

The thirty-fourth feature is the battery unit according to thethirty-third feature, wherein the second threshold is “1.”

The thirty-fifth feature is a flavor inhaler, comprising: the batteryunit according to any one of the twenty-fourth feature to thethirty-fourth feature; and a load.

The thirty-sixth feature is a method of controlling a battery unitincluding: a power supply; and a connection configured to be connectablewith a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor sourceor a charger for charging the power supply; and a detector configured todetect an abnormality in the load or the power supply, the methodcomprising: performing a specific process at least selectivelyexecutable to at least temporarily disable the supply of electric powerto the load from the power supply, if an abnormality in the load or thepower supply is detected.

The thirty-seventh feature is a program causing a battery unit toexecute the method according to the thirty-sixth feature.

Here, the description made in the scope of claims will be complementedas below. The description reading that “the decreasing amount of theoutput voltage per a predetermined time period” means an amountrepresenting how much the output voltage is decreased in a predeterminedtime period. In other words, the decreasing amount is an amountrepresenting how small the output voltage at the end of thepredetermined time period is with respect to the output voltage at thestart of the time period. For example, the “decreasing amount of theoutput voltage per a predetermined time period” is obtained bysubtracting the output voltage at the start of the predetermined timeperiod from the output voltage at the end of the predetermined timeperiod. When the “decreasing amount of the output voltage per apredetermined time period” has a negative value, the output voltage isdecreased in the predetermined time period. On the other hand, when the“decreasing amount of the output voltage per a predetermined timeperiod” has a positive value, the output voltage is increased in thepredetermined time period. Note that when two “decreasing amounts of theoutput voltage per a predetermined time period” that are different fromeach other are compared, smaller “decreasing amount of the outputvoltage per a predetermined time period” means that the output voltageis more greatly decreased in the predetermined time period, in otherwords, that the output voltage at the end of the predetermined timeperiod is smaller than the output voltage at the start of thepredetermined time period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustrating a flavor inhaler according toone embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an atomizing unit according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an electric circuit provided in abattery unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an electric circuit including theatomizing unit and the battery unit in a state in which a load isconnected to the battery unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an electric circuit including a chargerand the battery unit in a state in which the charger is connected to thebattery unit.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control flow to transition to apower supply mode and a charge mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a power supply mode according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an authenticationprocess of the load according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the charge mode according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing an example of a relationship betweendegradation of a power supply and an output voltage of the power supply.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an abnormality processaccording to one embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating another example of an abnormalityprocess according to one embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an electric circuit of a flavorinhaler according to a second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described. Note that the same orsimilar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference signs in thedescriptions of the drawings below. It should be noted that the drawingsare schematic and each ratio in dimensions may be different from anactual ratio.

Therefore, specific dimensions and the like should be determined withreference to the following descriptions. Needless to say, parts in whichthe relationship or ratio in dimensions varies between the mutualdrawings, may be included.

Outline of Disclosure

As disclosed in PTL 2, there exists an electronic smoking apparatus inwhich an atomizer and a charger can be alternatively connected to aconnection (interface) of a battery unit. Specifically, the connectionof the battery unit is connected with the charger during charging and isconnected with the atomizer during discharging. To charge or discharge apower supply, a switch (transistor) in the battery unit is turned on, sothat the power supply is electrically connected to the charger or theatomizer.

For example, misdetection that the charger is connected to theconnection may be caused by a phenomenon such as chattering that isinduced when the electric load such as the atomizer is connected to theconnection, although the electric load is connected to the connection.When such misdetection occurs, the switch in the battery unit isunintentionally turned on, which may cause wasting of the electric powerof the power supply.

According to the outline of the disclosure according to one aspect, abattery unit includes a power supply, a connection configured to beconnectable with a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating aflavor source or a charger for charging the power supply, and acontroller that performs a specific process at least selectivelyexecutable to at least temporarily disable the supply of electric powerto the load from the power supply, when erroneously determining the loadconnected to the connection as the charger is identified.

According to the outline of the disclosure according to another aspect,a battery unit includes a power supply, a connection configured to beconnectable with a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating aflavor source or a charger for charging the power supply, and acontroller that can execute a power supply mode in which electric poweris supplied to the load from the power supply and a charge mode in whichthe charger charges the power supply. The controller performs a specificprocess at least selectively executable to at least temporarily disablethe supply of electric power to the load from the power supply, in thecase of executing the charge mode when the load is connected to theconnection.

According to the outline of the disclosure according to still anotheraspect, a battery unit includes a power supply, a connection configuredto be connectable with a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heatinga flavor source or a charger for charging the power supply, a detectorconfigured to detect an abnormality in the load or the power supply, anda controller that performs a specific process at least selectivelyexecutable to at least temporarily disable the supply of electric powerto the load from the power supply, when an abnormality in the load orthe power supply is detected.

According to the above-described outline of the disclosure, when anyabnormality occurs, such as in the case where misdetection that thecharger is connected to the connection occurs although the load isconnected to the connection, a specific process at least selectivelyexecutable to at least temporarily disable the supply of electric powerto the load from the power supply is performed. The supply of electricpower to the load from the power supply can be at least temporarilydisabled forcibly, thereby preventing wasting of the electric power ofthe power supply.

First Embodiment

(Non-Combustion-Type Flavor Inhaler)

Hereinafter, a flavor inhaler according to a first embodiment will bedescribed. FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustrating a flavor inhaleraccording to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating anatomizing unit according to one embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagramillustrating an electric circuit provided in a battery unit. FIG. 4 is adiagram illustrating an electric circuit including a load and thebattery unit in a state in which the load is connected to the batteryunit. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an electric circuit including acharger and the battery unit in a state in which the charger isconnected to the battery unit.

A flavor inhaler 100 may be a non-combustion-type flavor inhaler withwhich a user inhales an inhalation component (inhaling taste component)without combustion. The flavor inhaler 100 may have a shape extending ina predetermined direction A that is a direction toward a mouthpiece endE1 from a non-mouthpiece end E2.

The flavor inhaler 100 may include a battery unit 112 and an atomizingunit 111. The atomizing unit 111 may include an aerosol source thatgenerates aerosol and/or a flavor source that generates a flavorcomponent, and an electric load 111R for atomizing the aerosol source orheating the flavor source. It is sufficient that the load 111R is anelement that can generate aerosol and/or a flavor component from theaerosol source and/or the flavor source by receiving the electric power.

The battery unit 112 includes a power supply 40 and a controller 51. Thepower supply 40 stores the electric power necessary for the operation ofthe flavor inhaler 100. The power supply 40 supplies the electric powerto the load of an atomization assembly 120. The power supply 40 may be,for example, a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion battery.

The battery unit 112 includes a connection 120 configured to beconnectable with the load 111R of the atomizing unit 111 or a charger200 for charging the power supply 40. The connection 120 of the batteryunit 112 is configured to be alternatively connectable with the load111R and the charger 200. In other words, the charger 200 or the load111R is exclusively connected to the connection 120 of the battery unit112, and the charger 200 and the load 111R are not connected to theconnection 120 at the same time. However, this does not apply to a casein which the battery unit 112 includes a plurality of connections 120.

The connection 120 of the battery unit 112 includes electric terminals120 t for being electrically connected with the load 111R of theatomizing unit 111 and the charger 200. The electric terminals 120 t areconnected to the power supply 40 and the controller 51 (see FIG. 3 ).

When the atomizing unit 111 is connected to the connection 120 of thebattery unit 112, the load 111R provided in the atomizing unit 111 isconnected to the power supply 40 of the battery unit 112 through theelectric terminals 120 t (see FIG. 4 ). When the charger 200 isconnected to the connection 120 of the battery unit 112, the charger 200is electrically connected to the power supply 40 of the battery unit 112through the electric terminals 120 t (see FIG. 5 ).

The battery unit 112 may include an inlet hole 112A through which airflows in from outside. The air that has flowed in through the inlet hole112A reaches a mouthpiece provided in the mouthpiece end E1 of theflavor inhaler 100 through a flow path provided inside of the atomizingunit 111. Note that another inlet hole may be provided in the atomizingunit 111, instead of the inlet hole 112A or to be used together with theinlet hole 112A. As another variation, the atomizing unit 111 and thebattery unit 112 may be configured so that the inlet hole is formed inthe connection portion (boundary portion) when the atomizing unit 111 isconnected to the battery unit 112.

Hereinafter, a detailed example of the atomizing unit 111 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 . The atomizing unit 111may include a reservoir 111P, a wick 111Q, and the load 111R. Thereservoir 111P stores a liquid aerosol source. The reservoir 111P may bea porous body formed by, for example, materials such as a resin web. Thewick 111Q is a liquid holding member for drawing the aerosol source fromthe reservoir 111P using capillary action. The wick 111Q is formed by,for example, glass fiber or porous ceramic.

The load 111R may be a resistance heating element. This resistanceheating element atomizes the aerosol source held by the wick 111Q. Forexample, the resistance heating element is formed by a resistanceheating element (e.g., heating wire) wound around the wick 111Q.

The air that has flowed from the inlet hole 112A passes through thevicinity of the load 111R in the atomizing unit 111. The aerosolgenerated by the load 111R flows together with the air toward themouthpiece.

The aerosol source may be a liquid at ordinary temperatures. Forexample, polyhydric alcohol may be used as the aerosol source. Theaerosol source itself may contain the flavor component. Alternatively,the aerosol source may include a tobacco material that emits a fragranceinhaling taste component by being heated or an extract deriving from thetobacco material.

Note that in the above-described embodiment, an example of the liquidaerosol source at ordinary temperatures has been described in detail,but instead of the liquid aerosol source, an aerosol source that is asolid at ordinary temperatures may be also used.

The atomizing unit 111 may include a replaceable flavor unit 130. Theflavor unit 130 may include a cylindrical body 131, a flavor source 132,a mesh 133A, and a filter 133B. The cylindrical body 131 has acylindrical shape extending in the predetermined direction A. Thecylindrical body 131 includes a retainer 134 that retains the flavorsource 132.

The flavor source 132 is provided in a position closer to the mouthpieceside than the atomizing unit 111 in the flow path of the air inhaledfrom the mouthpiece. The flavor source 132 provides the aerosol atomizedby the load 111R of the atomizing unit 111 with fragrance inhalingtaste. The flavor added to the aerosol by the flavor source 132 issupplied to the mouthpiece of the flavor inhaler 100.

The flavor source 132 may be a solid at ordinary temperatures. By way ofexample, the flavor source 132 comprises an ingredient piece of a plantmaterial which provides aerosol with fragrance inhaling taste component.Shredded tobacco or a product, which is made by processing a tobaccomaterial such as a tobacco row material to have a granular form, may beused as an ingredient piece which is a component of the flavor source132. In this regard, the flavor source 132 may comprise a product whichis made by processing a tobacco material to have a sheet form. Also, theingredient piece, which is a component of the flavor source 132, maycomprise a plant (for example, mint, a herb, and the like) other thantobacco. The flavor source 132 may be provided with flavor such asmenthol.

The mesh 133A is provided to cover an opening of the cylindrical body131 on the non-mouthpiece side with respect to the flavor source 132.The filter 133B is provided to cover an opening of the cylindrical body131 on the mouthpiece side with respect to the flavor source 132. Themesh 133A has a degree of coarseness that is sufficient to prevent theingredient piece, which is a component of the flavor source 132, frompassing through the mesh 133A. The filter 133B is formed by a materialhaving ventilation. The filter 133B has a degree of coarseness that issufficient to prevent the ingredient piece, which is a component of theflavor source 132, from passing through the filter 133B.

In the present embodiment, the atomizing unit 111 includes both of theaerosol source and the flavor source. Alternatively, the atomizing unit111 may include only at least one of the aerosol source and the flavorsource.

In the present embodiment, since the user of the flavor inhaler 100places his/her mouth over a portion in the vicinity of the filter 113Bto inhale the aerosol, the flavor unit 130 serves as a so-calledmouthpiece. Alternatively, another mouthpiece may be provided separatelyfrom the flavor unit 130.

In the present embodiment, the load 111R is provided as an element foratomizing the aerosol source. Alternatively, the load 111R may beprovided as an element for heating the flavor source 132. In addition,the load 111R may be provided as an element for atomizing the aerosolsource and heating the flavor source 132.

In the present embodiment, the load 111R is provided in the vicinity ofthe reservoir 111P that stores the aerosol source. Alternatively, theload 111R may be provided in the vicinity of the flavor unit 130 thatstores the flavor source 132. The number of load 111R is not limited toone, and therefore the loads 111R may be provided in the vicinity of thereservoir 111P and the flavor unit 130, respectively.

The load 111R is not limited to the resistance heating element. It issufficient that the load 111R is an element that can atomize the aerosolsource or heat the flavor source. The load 111R may be, for example, aheat generating element such as a heater or an element such as anultrasound generator. Examples of the heat generating element include aheat generation resistor, a ceramic heater, and an induction heatingtype heater.

Next, a specific example of a configuration of the battery unit 112 willbe described. The battery unit 112 includes a switch 140 that canelectrically connect or disconnect the power supply 40 to or from theload 111R or the charger 200 that is connected to the connection 120.The switch 140 is opened or closed by the controller 51. The switch 140is formed by, for example, a MOSFET.

When the switch 140 is turned on in a state in which the load 111R isconnected to the connection 120, the electric power is supplied to theload 111R from the power supply 40 (see FIG. 4 ). When the switch 140 isturned on in a state in which the charger 200 is connected to theconnection 120, the power supply 40 is charged by the charger 200 (seeFIG. 5 ).

The battery unit 112 includes a determining section that determineswhether the charger 200 is connected to the connection 120. Thedetermining section may be a means for determining whether the chargeris connected to the connection 120 based on the potential differencebetween the electric terminals 120 t provided to the connection 120. Inthe present embodiment, the determining section includes a pair ofelectric resistors 150 and 152 that are arranged in series. One electricresistor 150 of the pair of electric resistors is provided at a positionwhere the connection terminals 120 t are connected to each other. Theother electric resistor 152 of the pair of electric resistors isconnected to one terminal of a control module forming the controller 51.

The pair of electric resistors 150 and 152 may have a known electricresistance value. The electric resistance value of the pair of electricresistors 150 and 152 is sufficiently larger than that of the load 111R,and may be, for example, 10 kΩ.

A potential at a point between the pair of electric resistors 150 and152 in a state in which nothing is connected to the electric terminals120 t differs from that in a state in which the charger 200 is connectedto the electric terminals 120 t. Accordingly, the controller 51 canestimate that the connection 120 is connected with nothing or with thecharger 200 based on a signal (hereinafter, referred to as a “WAKEsignal”) received from the other electric resistor 152 of the pair ofelectric resistors. More specifically, the controller 51 can estimatethat the charger 200 is not connected to the connection 120 whendetecting a first level (for example, HIGH) WAKE signal. The controller51 can estimate that the charger 200 is connected to the connection 120when detecting a second level (for example, LOW) WAKE signal.

A difference between a WAKE signal in the case where the load 111R isconnected to the connection 120 and a WAKE signal in the case where thecharger 200 is connected to the connection 120 will be described in moredetail.

When the switch 140 is turned off and the charger 200 is not connectedto the connection 120 as illustrated in FIG. 3 , a dark currentdischarged as stand-by power from the power supply 40 flows through theelectric resistors 150 and 152. The controller 51 detects voltage dropbetween the electric resistors 150 and 152 at that time as the firstlevel WAKE signal.

On the other hand, when the charger 200 is connected to the connection120 as illustrated in FIG. 5 , the current supplied from the charger 200to charge the power supply 40 preferentially flows to the power supply40 having a lower resistance value than that of the electric resistor150 in a parallel circuit of the electric resistor 150 and the powersupply 40. Since the potential at the terminal of the electric resistor152 which is connected with the electric resistor 150 is decreased toapproximately ground level, the voltage drop hardly occurs at theelectric resistor 152, and the controller 51 detects the second levelWAKE signal.

The first level WAKE signal and the second level WAKE signal may havevalues having a predetermined range which do not overlap each other.

In the present embodiment, the determining section determines whetherthe charger 200 is connected to the connection 120. Alternatively, thedetermining section may determine that the connection 120 is in thestate of being not connected with any of the charger 200 or the load111R, in the state of being connected with the charger 200, or in thestate of being connected with the load 111R. The WAKE signals detectedby the controller 51 in the three states, respectively, are different inlevel, by increasing the electric resistance value of the load 111R tobe sufficiently larger than that of the electric resistor 150.

When the switch 140 is turned off and the load 111R is connected to theconnection 120 as illustrated in FIG. 4 , a current discharged from thepower supply 40 preferentially flows through the load 111R having alower resistance value than that of the electric resistor 150 in aparallel circuit of the load 111R and the electric resistor 150, andthen flows through the electric resistor 152. The controller 51 detectsvoltage drop between the load 111R and the electric resistor 152 at thattime as the third level WAKE signal which does not overlap with thefirst level WAKE signal and the second level WAKE signal.

The battery unit 112 may include a detector 160 configured to detect anoutput voltage of the power supply 40. The detector 160 may be providedin the electric circuit in the battery unit 112. The detector 160 may beformed by any well-known electric module. In the present embodiment, thecontroller 51 and the detector 160 are formed by different modules.Alternatively, the controller 51 and the detector 160 may be formed byone module.

The battery unit 112 may include a disconnecting means 170 for at leasttemporarily disabling the supply of electric power to the load 111R fromthe power supply 40. The disconnecting means 170 may be provided betweenthe power supply 40 and the electric terminal 120 t in the electriccircuit of the battery unit 112.

The disconnecting means 170 is preferably configured to be switchablebetween a first mode in which the supply of electric power to the load111R from the power supply 40 is temporarily disabled so that thecontroller 51 can resume the supply of electric power and a second modein which the supply of electric power to the load 111R from the powersupply 40 is irreversibly disabled so that the controller 51 cannotresume the supply of electric power. The controller 51 may be configuredto be able to control the disconnecting means 170 for switching betweenthe first mode and the second mode.

As an example of a specific configuration, the disconnecting means 170may include a fuse 172. The disconnecting means 170 may be configured sothat a normal line L2 and an abnormal line L3 are branched in parallelfrom a line L1 provided with the fuse 172. In the normal line L2, afirst electric resistor 174 and a first switch 175 may be connected inseries to each other. In the abnormal line L3, a second electricresistor 176 and a second switch 177 may be connected in series to eachother.

When both of the first switch 175 and the second switch 177 are turnedoff, the electric power cannot be supplied to the load 111R from thepower supply 40, and the power supply 40 cannot be charged by thecharger 200. During the normal operation, that is, while the abnormalcircumstance does not occur, the first switch 175 is turned on and thesecond switch 177 is turned off. In this way, the load 111R or thecharger 200 that is connected to the connection 120 is connected withthe power supply 40 through the normal line L2.

In the first mode, both of the first switch 175 and the second switch177 are turned off. Hereby, the load 111R connected to the connection120 is electrically disconnected from the power supply 40, therebytemporarily disabling the supply of electric power to the load 111R fromthe power supply 40.

In the second mode, both of the first switch 175 and the second switch177 are turned on. Hereby, the current flows in both of the normal lineL2 and the abnormal line L3, and the current that is larger than thatduring the normal operation flows in the fuse 172, whereby the fuse 172is blown. When the fuse 172 is blown, the supply of electric power tothe load 111R from the power supply 40 is irreversibly disabled so thatthe controller 51 cannot resume the supply of electric power.

Note that in an alternative aspect to the above-described aspect, in thesecond mode, the first switch 175 may be turned off and the secondswitch 177 may be turned on. Even in such a case, when the resistancevalue of the second electric resistor 176 is sufficiently smaller thanthe resistance value of the first electric resistor 174, the currentthat is larger than that during the normal operation flows in the fuse172, whereby the fuse 172 can be blown.

Note that it is sufficient that the resistance value of the firstelectric resistor 174 and the resistance value of the second electricresistor 176 are set so that the fuse 172 is not blown in the first modeand the fuse 172 is blown in the second mode.

The abnormal line L3 may be a so-called short-circuit line that does notinclude the second resistor 176 and has only conductive wire resistanceof the lead wire.

In an alternative aspect to the aspect illustrated in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 ,the disconnecting means 170 may be a means capable of performing onlythe first mode in which the supply of electric power to the load 111Rfrom the power supply 40 is temporarily disabled so that the controller51 can resume the supply of electric power. In this case, thedisconnecting means 170 includes only a single switch, and therefore thedisconnecting means 170 may not include the fuse 172.

Furthermore, the disconnecting means 170 may be a means capable ofperforming only the second mode in which the supply of electric power tothe load 111R from the power supply 40 is irreversibly disabled so thatthe controller 51 cannot resume the supply of electric power. In thiscase, the disconnecting means 170 may not include the first switch 175.

As another example of the disconnecting means 170, a DC-DC converter maybe used. To blow the fuse 172, the output current of the DC-DC converteris controlled so that the current equal to or larger than the currentvalue which is required to blow the fuse 172 can flow in the fuse 172.

The flavor inhaler 100 may include a power supply degradation estimatingmeans for estimating the degradation state (life) of the power supply40. The power supply degradation detecting means may be any known meanssuch as a current integration method, for example. As a specificexample, the power supply degradation estimating means can estimate thedegradation state of the power supply 40 by calculating a totalintegrated value of a current charged or discharged by the power supply40. Note that instead of the current integration method, the powersupply degradation estimating means may estimate the degradation stateof the power supply 40 based on an increase in internal temperature ofthe power supply 40 and a change such as decreases in electric powervalue and voltage value output from the power supply 40 which areassociated with an increase in impedance of the power supply 40.

The controller 51 may be configured to be capable of executing aplurality of operation modes. The operation modes include, for example,a power supply mode and a charge mode. The power supply mode is a modein which electric power can be supplied to the load 111R from the powersupply 40. The charge mode is a mode in which the charger 200 can chargethe power supply 40.

The flavor inhaler 100 may include a detector 20 configured to detect anoperation for using the load 111R. The detector 20 is preferablyprovided in the battery unit 112. A signal from the detector 20 can bedetected by the controller 51.

The detector 20 may be an inhalation sensor configured to detect aninhalation from the mouthpiece of the flavor inhaler 100 by a user, forexample. The inhalation sensor may be a MEMS (Micro Electro MechanicalSystems) sensor having a capacitor, and outputs a value indicatingcapacitance of the capacitor (for example, a voltage value)corresponding to differential pressure caused in the flow path by theinhaling operation. The output value may be recognized as a pressure ormay be recognized as a flow rate per unit time or a flow velocity.Instead of the inhalation sensor, the detector 20 may be configured, forexample, from a push button that detects when the user presses thebutton.

The flavor inhaler 100 may include a notification means 30. Thenotification means 30 is preferably provided in the battery unit 112.Examples of the notification means 30 include a light-emitting elementlike a LED, a voice and sound output device, and a sense feedback devicelike Haptics. When the sense feedback device is used as a notificationmeans, the sense feedback device includes, for example, a vibratingelement, and performs the notification by transmitting the vibration tothe user. The controller 51 can control the notification means 30 tonotify the user of a difference in operation mode of the flavor inhalerand an abnormality occurring in the flavor inhaler.

(Transition to Power Supply Mode or Charge Mode)

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a control flow to transition to a powersupply mode M1 or a charge mode M2.

The controller 51 monitors a WAKE signal. When the WAKE signal is at thefirst level, the controller 51 proceeds the process to step S30 (stepS10). The controller 51 determines whether the detector 20 detects theoperation for using the load 111R (step S30). When the detector 20detects the operation for using the load 111R (Yes in step S30), thecontroller 51 transitions the operation mode to the power supply modeM1. When the detector 20 does not detect the operation for using theload 111R (No in step S30), the controller 51 returns the process tostep S10.

When the WAKE signal is at the second level, the controller 51transitions the operation mode to the charge mode M2 (step S20).

Note that, although not limited to this example, the controller 51 maytransition the operation mode to the power supply mode M1 based on anysignal indicating that the load 111R is attached to the connection 120of the battery unit 112. Similarly, the controller 51 may transition theoperation mode to the charge mode M2 based on any signal indicating thatthe charger 200 is attached to the connection 120 of the battery unit112.

(Power Supply Mode)

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a power supply mode according to oneembodiment. When a first condition is satisfied in the power supplymode, the controller 51 turns on the switch 140 (step S102). When theswitch 140 is turned on, the supply of electric power to the load 111Rfrom the power supply 40 is started. The output voltage of the powersupply 40 may be stored in the controller 51 (step S100) before theswitch 140 is turned on. Note that the amount of electric power to besupplied to the load 111R from the power supply 40 may be optionallycontrolled. For example, the amount of electric power to be supplied tothe load 111R from the power supply 40 may be adjusted by the pulsewidth control. The duty ratio with respect to the pulse width may be avalue smaller than 100%. Note that the amount of electric power to besupplied to the load 111R from the power supply 40 may be adjusted bythe pulse frequency control instead of the pulse width control.

In the present embodiment, the first condition may be a condition basedon the detection of the operation for using the load 111R. As a specificexample, the first condition may be that the operation for using theload 111R is detected. Specifically, the controller 51 turns on theswitch 140 when the detector 20 detects the operation for using the load111R. When the detector 20 is, for example, an inhalation sensor, thecontroller 51 turns on the switch 140 when the inhalation sensor detectsthe user's inhaling operation. When the detector 20 is a push button,the controller 51 turns on the switch 140 when the push button detectsthat the user presses the push button.

Instead of the above-described specific example, the first condition maybe that the operation for using the load 111R is detected, and furtheranother condition is satisfied. For example, when the detector 20detects the operation for using the load 111R and the condition that theuser presses the push button is satisfied, the controller 51 turns onthe switch 140. As another example, when the detector 20 detects theoperation for using the load 111R and the condition that the load 111Ris authenticated is satisfied as described later, the controller 51turns on the switch 140.

The output voltages of the power supply 40 are detected by the detector160 at a predetermined time interval before the electric power issupplied to the load 111R (the power supply operates under a no-loadcondition) and while the electric power is supplied to the load 111R(the power supply operates under a load condition). The detected outputvoltages of the power supply 40 are stored in the controller 51 (stepsS100, S104, S106, and S108). The output voltage of the power supply 40that is detected by the detector 160 during the power supply mode M1 isstored in a memory provided in the controller 51.

In the present embodiment, during the power supply mode M1, thecontroller 51 may execute, based on the amount of change in the outputvoltage of the power supply 40 per a predetermined time period in thepower supply mode M1, a specific control different from the supply ofelectric power to the load 111R. By way of example, the specific controlmay be, for example, an authentication process of the load 111R (stepS110).

As illustrated in FIG. 8 , in the authentication process of the load111R, specifically, the controller 51 determines whether the amount ofchange in the output voltage of the power supply 40 per a predeterminedtime period is included in a predetermined range (step S200). Here, itshould be noted that the amount of change in the output voltage of thepower supply 40 per a predetermined time period may correspond to adifference between the output voltage when the load 111R is energizedand the output voltage when the load 111R is not energized.

When the amount of change in the output voltage of the power supply 40per a predetermined time period is included in a predetermined range,the authentication of the load 111R is continued (step S202), and theprocess proceeds to step S112 in the power supply mode.

When the amount of change in the output voltage of the power supply 40per a predetermined time period is not included in a predeterminedrange, the switch 140 is turned off (step S206), and the authenticationof the load 111R is cancelled (step S208). When the authentication ofthe load 111R is cancelled, the controller 51 may notify the user ofthis fact (step S210). The notification to the user can be performed bythe notification means 30.

In the state in which the authentication of the load 111R is cancelled,it is preferred that the controller 51 does not turn on the switch 140even when the detector 20 detects the operation for using the load 111R,that is, that the electric power is not supplied to the load 111R.

After the authentication of the load 111R is cancelled, the controller51 may execute the re-authentication process of the load 111R (stepS214) when the resume operation (resume signal) is detected.Specifically, when detecting the resume signal (step S212), thecontroller 51 turns on the switch 140 (step S213), and detects theoutput voltage of the power supply 40 at a predetermined time interval.Then, when the amount of change in the output voltage of the powersupply 40 per a predetermined time period is not included in apredetermined range, the notification to the user is performed (stepS210) while keeping the authentication of the load 111R in the cancelledstate. Note that when the switch is turned on in step S213 to detect thechange in output voltage of the power supply 40, it is preferable toshorten the energization time or limit the electric power to be suppliedto the load 111R from the power supply 40 by the pulse width control orthe pulse frequency control, so that the aerosol source is not atomizedby the current flowing in the load 111R. In other words, it ispreferable to turn on the switch 140 for a short time so that theelectric power smaller than the electric power to be supplied to theload 111R is supplied when the aerosol source is atomized in the powersupply mode.

When the amount of change in the output voltage of the power supply 40per a predetermined time period is included in a predetermined range,the load 111R is authenticated (step S216), the power supply mode isstarted. Here, it should be noted that the amount of change in theoutput voltage of the power supply 40 per a predetermined time periodmay correspond to a difference between the output voltage when the load111R is energized and the output voltage when the load 111R is notenergized after the resume signal is detected.

The resume operation (signal) may be a signal obtained by detecting thatthe load 111R is reconnected, a signal for detecting that the pushbutton is pressed in a predetermined pattern, a signal obtained bydetecting the inhaling operation in a predetermined pattern, a signalobtained by detecting the completion of one puff operation, or the like.

The authentication of the load 111R may be performed to determinewhether the atomizing unit 111 connected to the battery unit 112 can beused, for example. In the above-described aspect, when theauthentication of the load 111R is cancelled, for example, thecontroller 51 determines that the load 111R connected to the batteryunit 112 cannot be used, and can prompt the replacement of the load111R. When the amount of change in the output voltage of the powersupply 40 per a predetermined time period exceeds the allowance range,for example, the controller 51 determines that the load 111R has beendegraded, and can cancel the authentication to prompt the replacement ofthe load 111R. Alternatively, when an inauthentic atomizing unit havinga voltage drop amount different from that of an authentic atomizing unit111 is connected to the battery unit 112, the controller 51 cancels theauthentication to prompt the replacement of the inauthentic load withthe authentic load 111R.

In the authentication process of the load, when the authentication ofthe load 111R is continued (step S202), the process proceeds to stepS112 of the power supply mode (see FIG. 7 ). In step S112, thecontroller 51 determines whether the end timing of the supply ofelectric power to the load 111R has been detected. When the end timingis detected, the controller 51 turns off the switch 140 to wait untilthe next supply of electric power to the load 111R is started whilemaintaining the power supply mode M1. When the above-described firstcondition is satisfied again, the controller 51 turns on the switch 140(steps S100 and S102), and repeats the processes after steps S100 andS102.

The end timing of the supply of electric power to the load 111R may bethe timing when it is detected that a predetermined time has elapsedsince the supply of electric power to the load 111R was started.Alternatively, the end timing of the supply of electric power to theload 111R may be the timing when the detector 20 detects the completionof the operation for using the load 111R. When the detector 20 is, forexample, an inhalation sensor, the end timing of the supply of electricpower to the load 111R may be the timing when the inhalation sensordetects the completion of the user's inhaling operation.

(Predetermined Range)

The above-described predetermined range is set based on the normalvoltage drop amount of the load 111R. Specifically, a lower limit valuein the predetermined range may be set to a value smaller than adifference (voltage drop amount) between the voltage when the electricpower is not supplied to the load 111R and the voltage when the electricpower is supplied to the load 111R. Alternatively, the lower limit valuein the predetermined range may be set to a value smaller than thedecreasing amount of the output voltage of the power supply per apredetermined time period in the power supply mode in a state in whichan authentic normal load 111R is connected to the connection 120. Inthis case, when the authentic normal load 111R is connected to theconnection 120, the amount of change in the output voltage of the powersupply is larger than the lower limit value in the predetermined rangeand therefore is included in the predetermined range, whereby the powersupply mode can be continued.

On the other hand, when the inauthentic load or the severely degradedload is connected to the connection 120, the amount of change in theoutput voltage of the power supply tends to show a value different fromthat in the case where the authentic normal load 111R is connected tothe connection 120. When the inauthentic load is used, for example, theamount of change in the output voltage of the power supply shows uniquevalues because the resistance value of the inauthentic load itself isdifferent from that of the authentic load and the contact failure occursin the connection 120. The authentication of the inauthentic load can becancelled if the predetermined range is set to exclude these uniquevalues and to include the decreasing amount of the output voltage of thepower supply per a predetermined time period in the power supply mode inthe state in which the authentic normal load 111R is connected to theconnection 120. The resistance value of the severely degraded load showsan abnormal value that is a value largely different from that of thenormal load, although the authentic load is connected. Theauthentication of the severely degraded load can be cancelled if thepredetermined range is set to exclude this abnormal value and to includethe decreasing amount of the output voltage of the power supply per apredetermined time period in the power supply mode in the state in whichthe authentic normal load 111R is connected to the connection 120.

(Charge Mode)

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the charge mode according to oneembodiment. It is preferred that the controller 51 turns on the switchwhen a second condition different from the above-described firstcondition is satisfied in the charge mode M2. That is, the conditionsfor turning on the switch are different between the charge mode and thepower supply mode. Since the conditions for turning on the switch 140are different between the charge mode and the power supply mode,malfunction can be easily suppressed.

The second condition may be a condition based on the connection of thecharger 200 to the connection 120. The condition based on the connectionof the charger 200 to the connection 120 may be a condition that asignal (second-level WAKE signal) indicating the connection of thecharger 200 to the connection 120 has been detected. For example, thecondition based on the connection of the charger 200 to the connection120 may be a condition that the second-level WAKE signal has beendetected once or consecutively a plurality of times.

Alternatively, the condition based on the connection of the charger 200to the connection 120 may be a combination of a condition that a signal(second-level WAKE signal) indicating the connection of the charger 200to the connection 120 has been detected and a condition that furtheranother signal has been detected. Further another signal may be a signalfor detecting when the user presses the push button, for example. Notethat the push button may be provided on either the battery unit 112 orthe charger 200, or on each of the battery unit 112 and the charger 200.

If the charger 200 is connected to the connection 120 of the batteryunit 112 when the controller 51 turns on the switch 140, the currentflows from the charger 200 to the power supply 40, whereby the powersupply 40 is charged (step S300). The controller 51 turns on the switch140, and starts the timer built in the battery unit (step S302). Thetimer is set to “zero” when started. The timer measures time from thestart of the timer.

The controller 51 determines whether a predetermined time period haselapsed since the timer was started (step S304), and turns off theswitch 140 when the predetermined time period has elapsed (step S306).This predetermined time period may be, for example, 100 ms.

When a predetermined wait time has elapsed since the controller 51turned off the switch 140 (step S308), the controller 51 turns on theswitch 140 again (step S310). Here, the predetermined wait time may be,for example, 400 μs. The controller 51 stores a value of the WAKE signalduring the period between step S308 and step S310 (step S309).

The controller 51 repeats the processes from step S306 to step S310 apredetermined number of times. In the present embodiment, thepredetermined number of times is 10 times. Next, the controller 51determines whether the WAKE signals are at the second level for apredetermined consecutive number of times (here, 10 times) (step S314).

When the WAKE signals are not at the second level for the predeterminedconsecutive number of times, the controller 51 recognizes that thecharger 200 is detached from the battery unit 112, turns off the switch140 (step S316), and then ends a series of control flow. When the WAKEsignal is at the second level at least once of the predeterminedconsecutive number of times, the controller 51 continues the charge modeM2.

Next, the controller 51 performs steps in which an abnormality in thecharge mode is determined (step S318). Even when the controller 51determines based on the WAKE signal that the charger 200 is connected tothe connection 120, the determination may be wrong. For example, whenthe load 111R is attached to the connection 120, it is assumed that amalfunction is caused by a phenomenon such as chattering, which maycause erroneous transition to the charge mode M2. In step S318 in whichan abnormality in the charge mode M2 is determined, it is assumed thatthe abnormality is determined in the case where the erroneous transitionto the charge mode is thus caused.

Specifically, in the step in which abnormality in the charge mode isdetermined, when the decreasing amount of the output voltage of thepower supply 40 per a predetermined time period in the charge mode M2 isequal to or smaller than a first threshold which is set based on thedecreasing amount of the output voltage per the predetermined timeperiod in the power supply mode M1, the controller 51 determines theabnormality in the charge mode. That is, in this case, the controller 51estimates that the load 111R connected to the connection 120 iserroneously identified as the charger 200. In other words, thecontroller 51 determines that the charge mode is executed in a state inwhich the load 111R is connected to the connection 120. Note that theoutput voltage of the power supply 40 may be measured and stored at eachpredetermined interval.

When the controller 51 determines that the abnormality in the chargemode is present, the process proceeds to a specific process, forexample, specific processes described later which is illustrated in FIG.11 and FIG. 12 . Alternatively, when the controller 51 determines thatthe abnormality in the charge mode is present, the controller 51 maystop the switch 140 and control the notification means to notify theuser of the abnormality.

When the controller 51 determines that the abnormality in the chargemode is not present, the controller 51 continues the charge mode.Specifically, the controller 51 resets the timer to restart the timer,and repeats the processes after steps S302.

(First Threshold)

When the load 111R is connected to the connection 120, the outputvoltage of the power supply 40 per a predetermined time period when theswitch 140 is turned on decreases according to the electric resistancevalue of the load 111R. On the other hand, when the charger 200 isconnected to the connection 120, the output voltage of the power supply40 per a predetermined time period is not ideally decreased. This isbecause when the charger 200 is connected to the connection 120, thepower supply 40 is charged by the charger 200 or in a no-load condition,and the voltage between terminals of the power supply 40 increases inthe former case, and the voltage between terminals of the power supply40 is not ideally changed in the latter case. Accordingly, the firstthreshold may be equal to or smaller than the decreasing amount of theoutput voltage per a predetermined time period in the charge mode whichis executed in a state in which the charger 200 is connected to theconnection 120.

Strictly, when the charger 200 is connected to the connection 120, theoutput voltage of the power supply 40 per a predetermined time perioddecreases according to the voltage drop due to the dark currentnaturally discharged from the power supply 40. In this case, the firstthreshold is preferably larger than a value corresponding to the voltagedrop due to the dark current. Furthermore, the first threshold ispreferably set in consideration of an error of the detected outputvoltage value.

When the erroneous transition to the charge mode is caused although theload 111R is connected, the electric power larger than the electricpower to be supplied to the load 111R in the power supply mode M1 may besupplied to the load 111R. In this case, the decreasing amount of theoutput voltage per a predetermined time period becomes smaller than thedecreasing amount of the output voltage per a predetermined time periodin the power supply mode. Taking this into account, the first thresholdmay be set to the value equal to or smaller than the decreasing amountof the output voltage per a predetermined time period in the powersupply mode.

The first threshold may be set in advance in manufacturing the batteryunit 112. Note that the first threshold is not necessarily maintained atthe permanently preset value.

By way of example, the first threshold may be changed according to thedegradation of the power supply 40 and the charge and discharge historyof the power supply 40. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10 , typically,when the power supply 40 is degraded, that is, the number ofcharge/discharge cycles is increased, the output voltage of the powersupply 40 decreases and the voltage drop amount increases. This iscaused by decrease in the storage capacity due to the irreversibledecomposition of electrolyte, and increase in the internal resistancecaused by the change in the electrode structure due to aggregation ofactive material and electrically conductive assistant material.Accordingly, when the load 111R is connected to the connection 120, thepower supply 40 is degraded and the decreasing amount of the outputvoltage of the power supply 40 in the predetermined period is reduced.Taking this into account, the accuracy in determination of theabnormality in the charge mode can be improved by appropriately changingthe first threshold according to the degradation of the power supply 40.

Specifically, it is preferred that the first threshold is reduced as thepower supply 40 is degraded. Typically, the decreasing amount of theoutput voltage in the predetermined period when the load 111R isconnected to the connection 120 is increased as the power supply 40 isdegraded. Accordingly, even when the first threshold is further reduced,the abnormality in the charge mode can be determined. On the other hand,a drawback in which the decreasing amount of the output voltage of thepower supply 40 in the predetermined period which is detected in thecharge mode falls below the first threshold due to, for example, anerror of the detected value of the output voltage although the charger200 is connected to the connection 120 can be suppressed by reducing thefirst threshold.

Note that when a lithium ion secondary battery is used for the powersupply 40, in the relatively early charge/discharge cycle as isgenerally known, SEI (Solid Electrolyte Interphase) originating fromdecomposition of electrolyte is formed to cover the surface of thenegative electrode. Since this SEI stabilize the electrochemicalreaction, improvement in the reduction of the output voltage of thepower supply 40 in the predetermined period can be expected. In such acase as well, the accuracy in determination of the abnormality in thecharge mode can be improved by changing the first threshold according tothe charge and discharge history and the number of charges anddischarges.

As further another example, the first threshold may be changed based onthe decreasing amount of the output voltage per a predetermined timeperiod in the power supply mode. As described above, the output voltagein the power supply mode is stored in the controller 51 at eachpredetermined interval. Accordingly, the decreasing amount of the outputvoltage per a predetermined time period in the power supply mode can becalculated using the stored output voltage of the power supply 40 in thepower supply mode. The controller 51 can feed back, to the firstthreshold, the decreasing amount of the output voltage per apredetermined time period in the power supply mode. Thus, even when theatomizing unit 111 (load 111R) is replaced, the first threshold can beappropriately set based on the voltage drop value of the replaced newload 111R. Even when the power supply 40 is degraded and the voltagedrop amount of the output voltage is increased, the voltage drop amountof the output voltage following the degradation of the power supply 40can be reflected to the first threshold to be set, and therefore, theaccuracy in determination of the abnormality in the charge mode can beimproved.

The controller 51 determines the abnormality in the charge mode. Evenwhen misdetection that the charger 200 is connected to the connection120 occurs, although the load 111R is connected to the connection 120,the controller 51 can determine the misdetection. Therefore, the switch140 in the battery unit 112 can be prevented from erroneously continuingto be turned on, and the wasting of the electric power of the powersupply can be prevented.

(Specific Example of Step S318 in which an Abnormality in the ChargeMode is Determined)

In the step in which abnormality in the charge mode is determined, whenthe decreasing amount of the output voltage per a predetermined timeperiod in the charge mode is equal to or smaller than a threshold whichis set based on the decreasing amount of the output voltage per thepredetermined time period in the power supply mode, the controller 51determines that the abnormality in the charge mode is present. Theoutput voltage of the power supply 40 in the charge mode is detected ateach predetermined interval to calculate the decreasing amount of theoutput voltage of the power supply per the predetermined time period inthe charge mode.

By way of example, in step S318, the decreasing amount of the outputvoltage per a predetermined time period in the charge mode is calculatedby a difference between the output voltage value in the latest detectionand the output voltage value obtained in one time earlier detection thanthe latest detection. That is, in step S318, the first threshold iscompared with the difference between the latest detection value and thevalue obtained in one time earlier detection than the latest detection.Note that the detection value to be compared with the latest detectionvalue to obtain the difference therebetween is not necessarily a valueobtained in one time earlier detection than the latest detection, and avalue obtained in two or more time earlier detection than the latestdetection may be used to obtain the difference. In addition, thedetection value obtained before the switch 140 is turned on to start thecharge mode (prior to execution of step S300) may be used.

As another example, the decreasing amount of the output voltage per apredetermined time period in the charge mode may be defined by apredicted value derived from a plurality of output voltage values of thepower supply which are detected at predetermined intervals, that is apredicted value obtained from an approximation straight line or anapproximation curve. For example, the decrease in the output voltage canapproximate the straight line by the least square method based on theplurality of output voltage values of the power supply which aredetected at predetermined intervals, to calculate a predicted value ofthe decreasing amount of the output voltage per a predetermined timeperiod in the charge mode based on the approximation straight line. Thenumber of data (output voltage values) for using the least square methodis optional, but it is preferred that the number is large so that aninfluence of the detection error will be sufficiently reduced. Thus,when the decreasing amount of the output voltage per a predeterminedtime period in the charge mode is derived from the predicted valueobtained from the approximation straight line or the approximationcurve, the influence of the detection error can be reduced because thegradient of the approximation straight line and the derivative value ofthe approximation curve having values other than “zero” are likely toresult from the dark current due to self-discharge of the power supply40 in a no-load condition.

As further another example, in step S318, the decreasing amount of theoutput voltage per a predetermined time period in the charge mode may bechanged differently when the number of detecting the output voltage withreckoning from the start of the charge mode below a predetermined numberand when the number of detecting the output voltage with reckoning fromthe start of the charge mode is equal to or above the predeterminednumber. For example, when the number of detecting the output voltagewith reckoning from the start of the charge mode below a predeterminednumber, as described above, the decreasing amount of the output voltageper a predetermined time period in the charge mode may be calculated bya difference between the output voltage value in the latest detectionand the output voltage value obtained in one time earlier detection thanthe latest detection. Note that when the number of detecting the outputvoltage with reckoning from the start of the charge mode is equal to orabove the predetermined number, the decreasing amount of the outputvoltage per a predetermined time period in the charge mode may becalculated by a difference between the output voltage value in thelatest detection and a predicted value obtained based on a plurality ofoutput voltage values detected from the start of the charge mode. Thepredicted value is obtained using, for example, the least square methodas described above.

Regarding the predetermined number, when the predicted value is used,the accuracy of the predicted value is improved as the number of data(output voltage values) for using the least square method increases. Asis generally known, this is because in the least square method, thedeviation between actual data and the approximation straight line or theapproximation curve has a property of decreasing in proportion to theinverse square root of the number of data. Therefore, the predeterminednumber is optional, but it is preferred that the number is large so thatan influence of the detection error of the output voltage will besufficiently reduced. Thus, in the determination in step S318, theinfluence of the detection error of the output voltage of the powersupply can be suppressed.

As another example, without the above-described approximation straightline and approximation curve, the gradient is derived from the pluralityof output voltage values of the power supply which are detected atpredetermined intervals, and this gradient may be used for thedecreasing amount of output voltage per a predetermined time period inthe charge mode. Alternatively, the decreasing amount of output voltageof the power supply per a predetermined time period in the charge modemay be estimated based on the moving average value derived from theplurality of output voltage values.

(Specific Example 1 of Specific Process)

When determining that the abnormality in the charge mode is present instep S318 in which an abnormality in the charge mode is determined, thecontroller 51 performs a specific process at least selectivelyexecutable to at least temporarily disable the supply of electric powerto the load 111R from the power supply 40 (FIG. 11 ). FIG. 11illustrates an example of such a specific process.

When the specific process is started, the value of a specific variableis set to “1” (step S400). In this example, the specific variablerepresents the number of times that the specific condition is satisfied.In this example, the specific condition is a condition that thedecreasing amount of the output voltage per a predetermined time periodin the charge mode is equal to or smaller than the above-described firstthreshold.

Next, the controller 51 determines whether the value of the specificvariable is equal to or larger than the second threshold (step S402).The second threshold may be an arbitrary natural number of one orgreater. By way of example, the second threshold may be “1.”Alternatively, the second threshold may be a natural number of two orgreater. In this case, in the specific process, the controller 51 canrecheck whether the load 111R is connected to the connection 120 beforeat least temporarily disabling the supply of electric power to the load111R from the power supply 40. The recheck whether the load 111R isconnected to the connection 120 can be determined by whether thespecific condition is satisfied again.

As a specific example, when the value of the specific variable issmaller than the second threshold, the controller 51 measures the outputvoltage of the power supply 40 (step S404), and calculates thedecreasing amount of the output voltage per a predetermined time periodagain. Then, the controller 51 determines whether the above-describedspecific condition is satisfied, that is, whether the decreasing amountof the output voltage of the power supply 40 per a predetermined timeperiod is equal to or smaller than the first threshold (step S406).Here, when the decreasing amount of the output voltage of the powersupply 40 per a predetermined time period exceeds the first threshold,there is a possibility that the abnormality in the charge mode is notpresent. Therefore, the charge mode can be executed from the beginning.Instead of executing the charge mode from the beginning, the charge modecan be executed from some midpoint thereof if the decreasing amount ofthe output voltage of the power supply 40 per a predetermined timeperiod is larger than the first threshold. By way of example, theprocess may be returned to step S302 of starting the timer in the chargemode.

On the other hand, when the decreasing amount of the output voltage ofthe power supply 40 per a predetermined time period is equal to orsmaller than the first threshold, the value of the specific variable isincreased by “1” (step S408), and the controller 51 determines whetherthe value of the specific variable is equal to or larger than the secondthreshold (step S402).

When the value of the specific variable is equal to or larger than thesecond threshold, the controller 51 temporarily determines that theabnormality in the charge mode is present, and executes the first modein which the supply of electric power to the load 111R from the powersupply 40 is temporarily disabled so that the controller 51 can resumethe supply of electric power (step S410). Note that the first mode canbe executed by controlling the above-described disconnecting means 170by the controller 51. Then, the controller 51 notifies the user that thefirst mode is executed (step S412). The notification to the user can beperformed by the notification means 30.

After executing the first mode, the controller 51 turns on the switch140 and the switch 175 (step S413), measures the output voltage of thepower supply 40 (step S414), and determines again whether theabove-described specific condition is satisfied, that is, whether thedecreasing amount of the output voltage of the power supply 40 per apredetermined time period is equal to or smaller than the firstthreshold (step S416). Note that after the notification to the user isperformed (step S412), the controller 51 may measure the output voltageof the power supply 40 (step S414) if the resume operation (resumesignal) is detected.

Here, when the decreasing amount of the output voltage of the powersupply 40 per a predetermined time period exceeds the first threshold,there is a possibility that the abnormality in the charge mode is notpresent or that the abnormality has been resolved after the first modeis executed. Therefore, the first mode is cancelled (step S418), and thecharge mode can be executed from the beginning. Instead of executing thecharge mode from the beginning, the charge mode can be executed fromsome midpoint thereof.

On the other hand, when the decreasing amount of the output voltage ofthe power supply 40 per a predetermined time period is equal to orsmaller than the first threshold, the value of the specific variable isincreased by “1” (step S420), and the controller 51 determines whetherthe value of the specific variable is equal to or larger than a thirdthreshold (step S422). The third threshold is a natural number largerthan the second threshold. By way of example, the third threshold may bea natural number larger than the second threshold by “1.”

When the value of the specific variable is smaller than the thirdthreshold, the controller 51 measures the output voltage of the powersupply 40 (step S414), and determines again whether the above-describedspecific condition is satisfied, that is, whether the decreasing amountof the output voltage of the power supply 40 per a predetermined timeperiod is equal to or smaller than the first threshold (step S416).

When the value of the specific variable is equal to or larger than thethird threshold, the controller 51 determines that the abnormality inthe charge mode is present or it is difficult to resolve theabnormality, and executes the second mode in which the supply ofelectric power to the load 111R from the power supply 40 is irreversiblydisabled so that the controller 51 cannot resume the supply of electricpower (step S424). Note that the second mode can be executed bycontrolling the above-described disconnecting means 170 by thecontroller 51. Then, the controller 51 notifies the user that the secondmode is executed (step S426). The notification to the user can beperformed by the notification means 30.

As described above, the first condition (step S402) and the secondcondition (step S422) for determining whether the first mode and thesecond mode are to be executed respectively may be provided. In thiscase, the second condition is severer than the first condition. In otherwords, satisfying the second condition is more difficult than satisfyingthe first condition. For example, as in the case where the value of thespecific variable is equal to or larger than the second threshold andsmaller than the third threshold, in some cases the second conditioncannot be satisfied even when the first condition is satisfied. Whenthere is a possibility that the abnormality in the charge mode ispresent, the controller 51 executes the first mode in which the supplyof electric power to the load from the power supply is temporarilydisabled, and when there is a high possibility that the abnormality inthe charge mode is present, the controller 51 executes the second modein which the supply of electric power to the load from the power supplyis irreversibly disabled.

(Specific Example 2 of Specific Process)

FIG. 12 illustrates another example of a specific process alternative toFIG. 11 . When the specific process is started, the value of a specificvariable is set to “the decreasing amount of the latest output voltageper a predetermined time period” (step S500). In this example, thespecific variable includes the decreasing amount of the output voltageper a predetermined time period.

Next, the controller 51 determines whether the value of the specificvariable is equal to or smaller than a fourth threshold (step S502). Thefourth threshold may be the same as the above-described first threshold,for example, and may be set based on the decreasing amount of the outputvoltage of the power supply 40 per a predetermined time period in thepower supply mode.

When the value of the specific variable is larger than the fourththreshold, there is a possibility that the abnormality in the chargemode is not present. Therefore, the charge mode can be executed from thebeginning. Instead of executing the charge mode from the beginning, thecharge mode can be executed from some midpoint thereof.

When the value of the specific variable is equal to or smaller than thefourth threshold, the controller 51 determines whether the value of thespecific variable is equal to or smaller than a fifth threshold (stepS504). Here, the fifth threshold is a value smaller than the fourththreshold. The fifth threshold may be set to, for example, a value belowthe lower limit of the decreasing amount of the output voltage of thepower supply 40 per a predetermined time period when the authenticnormal load 111R is used, or to for example, the decreasing amount ofthe output voltage of the power supply 40 per a predetermined timeperiod when the power supply 40 is fully charged and the electric poweris supplied to the load 111R at the duty ratio of 100%.

When the value of the specific variable is equal to or smaller than thefourth threshold and larger than the fifth threshold, the controller 51temporarily determines that the abnormality in the charge mode ispresent, and executes the first mode in which the supply of electricpower to the load 111R from the power supply 40 is temporarily disabledso that the controller 51 can resume the supply of electric power (stepS510). Then, the controller 51 notifies the user that the first mode isexecuted (step S512).

When the value of the specific variable is equal to or smaller than thefifth threshold, the controller 51 determines that the abnormality inthe charge mode is present, and executes the second mode in which thesupply of electric power to the load 111R from the power supply 40 isirreversibly disabled so that the controller 51 cannot resume the supplyof electric power (step S524). Then, the controller 51 notifies the userthat the second mode is executed (step S526).

As described above, the first condition (step S502) and the secondcondition (step S504) for determining whether the first mode and thesecond mode are to be executed respectively may be provided. In thiscase, the second condition is severer than the first condition. In otherwords, satisfying the second condition is more difficult than satisfyingthe first condition. For example, as in the case where the value of thespecific variable is equal to or smaller than the fourth threshold andlarger than the fifth threshold, in some cases the second conditioncannot be satisfied even when the first condition is satisfied.

(Timing of Control of Disconnecting Means)

In the above-described example, in the case where the charge mode isexecuted when the load 111R is connected to the connection 120, that is,where the load 111R connected to the connection 120 is erroneouslyidentified as the charger 200, the controller 51 executes a specificprocess at least selectively executable to at least temporarily disablethe supply of electric power to the load 111R from the power supply 40(see FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 ).

Although not limited to this example, when detecting any abnormality inthe load 111R or the power supply 40, the controller 51 may execute aspecific process at least selectively executable to at least temporarilydisable the supply of electric power to the load 111R from the powersupply 40. Examples of abnormality in the load 111R or the power supply40 include connection of an inauthentic load to the connection 120, useof the battery unit by an inauthentic user (cancel of userauthentication), malfunction of the other battery unit, and the like.The connection of the inauthentic load to the connection 120 can bedetected by, for example, the above-described authentication process ofthe load.

When the detector 20 is, for example, a push button, the userauthentication can be performed by pressing the push button in apredetermined pattern. As another example, when the detector 20 is, forexample, an inhalation sensor, the user authentication can be performedby pressing the user's inhaling operation in the predetermined pattern.

(Program and Storage Medium)

The above-described flows illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9 , FIG. 11 and FIG.12 can be executed by the controller 51. That is, the controller 51 mayinclude a program causing the battery unit 112 and the flavor inhaler100 to execute the above-described method, and a storage medium storingtherein the program.

Second Embodiment

Next, a flavor inhaler according to a second embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 13 . Note that the same components asthose in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the samereference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.Hereinafter, the configuration different from the above-describedembodiment will be described in detail.

In the present embodiment, the above-described disconnecting means 170is provided in the atomization assembly 111, that is, the load 111R, notin the battery unit 112. The first switch 175 and the second switch 177forming the disconnecting means 170 may be configured to be electricallyconnected with the controller 51 through an electric terminal (notillustrated). When the load 111R is connected to the connectionterminals 120 t, the controller 51 is configured to be able to controlthe first switch 175 and the second switch 177 of the disconnectingmeans 170. Thus, the controller 51 can execute specific processesillustrated in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 .

According to the present embodiment, when the controller 51 executes thesecond mode in which the supply of electric power to the load 111R fromthe power supply 40 is irreversibly disabled so that the controller 51cannot resume the supply of electric power, the load 111R, that is, theatomization assembly 111 is replaced with new one, whereby the flavorinhaler 100 can be returned to the usable state. Typically, theatomization assembly 111 tends to be cheap relative to the battery unit112 having expensive components such as the power supply 40.Accordingly, the present embodiment is advantageous particularly interms of cost. The disconnecting means 170 may be provided to both ofthe battery unit 112 and the atomization assembly 111.

Other Embodiments

The present invention has been described by the above-describedembodiments, but it should not be understood that the description anddrawings constituting a part of the present disclosure limit the presentinvention. Various alternative embodiments, examples and operationtechniques will become apparent for those skilled in the art from thisdisclosure.

For example, configurations described in each of the above-describedembodiments may be combined and/or rearranged as much as possible.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A battery unit, comprising: a power supply;a connection configured to be connectable with a load for atomizing anaerosol source or heating a flavor source and a charger for charging thepower supply; and a controller that performs a specific process at leastselectively executable to at least temporarily disable the supply ofelectric power to the load from the power supply, if it is determinedthat the load connected to the connection has been erroneouslyidentified, as the charger.
 2. The battery unit according to claim 1,wherein in the specific process, the controller rechecks whether theload is connected to the connection before at least temporarilydisabling the supply of electric power to the load from the powersupply.
 3. The battery unit according to claim 1, wherein adisconnecting means for at least temporarily disabling the supply ofelectric power to the load from the power supply is provided to theload.
 4. The battery unit according to claim 1, further comprising: adisconnecting means for at least temporarily disabling the supply ofelectric power to the load from the power supply.
 5. The battery unitaccording to claim 1, comprising: a detector configured to detect anoutput voltage of the power supply, wherein the controller is capable ofexecuting a power supply mode in which electric power is supplied to theload from the power supply and a charge mode in which the chargercharges the power supply, and if a decreasing amount of the outputvoltage per a predetermined time period in the charge mode is equal toor smaller than a first threshold which is set based on the decreasingamount of the output voltage per the predetermined time period in thepower supply mode, the controller identifies that the load connected tothe connection is erroneously determined as the charger.
 6. The batteryunit according to claim 5, wherein the first threshold is set to beequal to or smaller than a decreasing amount of the output voltage perthe predetermined time period in the power supply mode.
 7. The batteryunit according to claim 5, comprising: a switch that is capable ofelectrically connecting or disconnecting the power supply to or from theload or the charger that is connected to the connection, wherein thecontroller turns on the switch if a first condition is satisfied in thepower supply mode, and the controller turns on the switch if a secondcondition different from the first condition is satisfied in the chargemode.
 8. The battery unit according to claim 7, comprising: a detectorconfigured to detect an operation for using the load, wherein the firstcondition is that the operation is detected.
 9. The battery unitaccording to claim 7, wherein the second condition is that the chargeris connected to the connection.
 10. The battery unit according to claim1, wherein the specific control includes a first mode in which thesupply of electric power to the load from the power supply istemporarily disabled so that the controller is capable of resuming thesupply of electric power and a second mode in which the supply ofelectric power to the load from the power supply is irreversiblydisabled so that the controller is not capable of resuming the supply ofelectric power.
 11. The battery unit according to claim 10, wherein thecontroller executes the first mode by controlling a snitch provided onat least one of the battery unit and the load.
 12. The battery unitaccording to claim 10, wherein the controller executes the first modewhen a specific variable is equal to or larger than a second threshold,and the controller executes the second mode when the specific variableis equal to or larger than a third threshold larger than the secondthreshold.
 13. The battery unit according to claim 12, wherein thespecific variable is the number of times that a specific condition issatisfied, the second threshold is a natural number of one or greater,and the third threshold is a natural number larger than the secondthreshold.
 14. The battery unit according to claim 12: comprising adetector configured to detect an output voltage of the power supply,wherein the specific variable includes decreasing amount of the outputvoltage per a predetermined time period in the charge mode.
 15. A battedunit, comprising: a power supply; a connection configured to beconnectable with a load for atomizing an aerosol source or heating aflavor source and a charger for charging the power supply; and acontroller that is capable of executing a power supply mode in whichelectric power is supplied to the load from the power supply and acharge mode in which the charger charges the power supply, wherein thecontroller performs a specific process at least selectively executableto at least temporarily disable the supply of electric power to the loadfrom the power supply, in the case of executing the charge mode when theload is connected to the connection.
 16. The battery unit according toclaim 15, comprising: a detector configured to detect an output voltageof the power supply, wherein if a decreasing amount of the outputvoltage per a predetermined time period in the charge mode is equal toor smaller than a first threshold which is set based on the decreasingamount of the output voltage per the predetermined time period in thepower supply mode, the controller determines to stop the charge modewhen the load is connected to the connection.